Mills.

For centuries the mill has symbolized the Dutch battle against the floods.

With start of the 15th century in the west and north of the Netherlands take works (poldermolen) were constructed in order to be able to control in this manner the water levels in the Poldern.

In the 17th century these mills were inserted then also to the reclaim the inlands.

Examples for that are the Schermer, the Beemster and the Purmer.

Yet the mills were used not only to the control of the Dutch water household.

Mills were inserted before that already also to industrial purposes.

The mills of the Zaanstreek, that are would venture represented a good example for this utilization so to speak that the current industry activity of this region.

Of that once round it gives yet about 1.100 (1.035 windmill and 106 water mill) at present to 10.000 mill that possessed Holland.

Therefrom approximately 138 water mill stand be located in north-Holland, most mill in the zone of the Schermer and the Zaanstreek.

The Zaanstreek was stood was constructed one of the first industry regions of the world, earlier here once einmal1.000 industry mill, a multitude of this mill abgegrannt and never again, the by far largest part was dismantled however.

Responsibly for that the Siegeszug of the steam engine and other industrial developments were.

Around the year 1900 around van were that once 1.000 mill only yet few dozens remaining. Today it only yet 12. under the industry mills it gave are and mustard mill to oil -, paint -, paper - and grain.

Round one-quarter of the mill (240) of the Zaanstreek were saw mill.

These saw mill mills had been developed around around the year 1600 specially for the norths-Dutch wood industry.

 

 

Museum mill, Noordervaart2 in Schermerhorn.

The museum mill in Schermerhorn is egg ne real water mill and dates out of the 17th century. The mill is always yet in operation and forms jointly with two other mills a so-called "molengang". Van mill lain a row next to one another becomes as a "molengang" designated.

These mills are inserted then if the differences between the water levels are so high, that these differences with an only Wasserhebemühle can no longer be bridged.

Each mill conveys the water respectively a level more highly.

This system is designated also as a 'steps-take work".

In the museum mill we the visitors shown how one lifted the water earlier over four meter heights differences over the meal breast.

In this mill, many information is given to the Dutch Polder and the roll, that played the mill in this room.

The ground of the mill consists of Glasplatten, through which the meal work can be observed.

On the storage, a reichbestückte collection is located van tools dereinstigen mill farmer.

Furthermore can an see in the original condition of the 19th century established cottage of a miller.

 

 

Zaanse Schans.

The Zaanse Schans is the reconstruction of an old Zaanschen residential and functioning quarter.

This open-air museum comprises twenty houses, mill and pile houses out of that 17th and 18th century.

Altogether on the terrain nine, mills stand, under that the Olmühle "De Zoeker" from the year 1673 and the windmill "De Kaf van 1782.

Each hour discards an excursion boat to    einerVergnügungsfahrt

 in height of the mustard mill, that at the mills and houses of the Zaanse Schans  vorbeiführt. The visitors can visit the bakery-museum that Dutch Uhrwerk-museum, a saw mill and a chees mill.

 

 

Zaans museum mill, Museumlaan 18 in Koog aan de Zaan

In a walk distance to the Zaanse Schans, the Zaans Molenmuseum lies.

This museum offers life of earlier an impression of such a mill to its visitors.

Here are also pressures, drawings and a model collection to besichtigen.

In its monumental painting "Zaans Molenpanorama" (2 xs 12 meters) schut of the painters Frans Mars an impressing work over the Zaanschen mill industry.

The museum shows moreover regularly change displays of forming artists.

 

 

Open mill meets.

At each second Saturday in the May the country expanse national mill days takes place.

Then more than open 600 winds and water mill in the entire country of the interested public its gates.

At this day become in many mills demonstrations of special geeze-work shown.

The interested mills erken nt one at the blue pennant.

Beginning of September takes place the Schermer  whirl day.

At this day if possible many of the mill closed in the foundation Schermer mill together are in operation.

Naturally then also the museum mill in Schermerhorn be opened.

In the zone of the Zaanstreek takes place at the last Saturday in the September of the "Zaanse Molendag".

At this day, many mills stand, under that the oldest papers wind mill of the world, to the examination aften.

That visit are to be recognized-open mills by the raised Dutch flag.

 

 

Mill-speaks.

In earlier times the mill formed to a certain extent the midpoint of the environment.

The gauze instructed the persons over that, what happened in the village partnership.

"Spoken language" were certain positions of the mill wings in the retirement.

There there was a "vreugdestand" in the mills for example, literally translates "bliss state".

In correspondingly joyful events, it gave held stop a certain wing state, with which the vertical standing wings stood then in that-position "komende", i.e. the wings shortly before these the highest point reached to the gauze.

The vertical standing mill wing "gaande", i.e. shortly behind the record level stopped, became pointed "rouwstand" signaling in the sorrow this frequently at a death, that let mourn the gauze.

The axes of the mill wings stood absolutely horizontally and vertically, the gauze was shortly before that, to receive its work again.

A quiet phase was on the other hand longer time, the mill wings in "X" stood- form.

During the second world war, the mills were used frequently as a signal in order to warn persons in hiding.

 

 

Mill-bicycle tour. 

A mill-bicycle tour passing over 40 km offers mill-bicycle tours of the VVV Alkmaar.

This tours proposal leads through 8 villages and to 14 mills.

The VVV Zaandam more differently prepared three mills-bicycle tours.

The shortest of the route leads at 13 mills past and is 29 km long.

The 62 km long route leads past at altogether 21 mills while the 90 km long route to 37 mills leads.

Start point of all three route proposals is the wrong societies (VVV) Zaandam

 

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